Assemblyman Micah Kellner has maxed out.
In 53 days, Mr. Kellner, a candidate for Upper East Side Councilwoman Jessica Lappin’s seat this year, has raised over $123,000 from over 440 donors, his campaign announced this morning. The total makes Mr. Kellner one of the strongest fundraisers in the city and effectively means he can’t raise any more money for the decisive Democratic primary while accepting public matching funds. Read More
Hill Krishnan, an adjunct professor at New York University and underdog candidate in the race to succeed Councilwoman Jessica Lappin in her Upper East Side seat, can dance. And, in a 2006 YouTube video entitled “Indian Disco Dancer,” he brings it to the streets of Manhattan.
Dressed in shiny disco-themed clothing, Mr. Krishnan strolls around doing chops and kicks as surprised onlookers gaze on. He eventually switches locations and ends up dancing both in a field and shirtless on the beach. Read More
The race to replace Councilwoman Jessica Lappin just got a tad more crowded today when attorney Nico Minerva officially registered a campaign committee for her seat. Ms. Lappin is expected to run for Manhattan Borough President, leaving her seat vacant for aspiring City Council Members in the Upper East Side.
Mr. Minerva said the only thing that could stop his campaign is if Ms. Lappin were to run for reelection.
“I’m a big fan of Jessica Lappin, I’m not going to run against her,” he told The Politicker this evening. But besides that, he said, “I’m all in.” Read More
Benjamin Kallos, an attorney and consultant in the Upper East Side, formally announced his campaign for Jessica Lappin’s City Council seat last night. Ms. Lappin is currently eyeing a campaign for Manhattan Borough President in 2013, potentially leaving a vacant seat behind her.
Speaking before a crowd in the back of the Off The Rails bar, Mr. Kallos particularly demonstrated some passion for government transparency in his speech. In addition to touting his efforts to get New York voting records online, he cheered the Council’s recently passed Open Data Bill and presented a “Suggest Your Own Solution for a Better City” worksheet for the crowd to fill out or submit online.
He also based part of his pitch based on Council politics, where the Council’s Progressive Caucus is hoping to make a stamp in the leadership race once current Council Speaker Christine Quinn is term-limited out and runs for mayor in 2013. He said he was “definitely going to join” the caucus and they “will surpass the 26 votes we need to get the most progressive policies passed in the City Council.” Read More
